Balto (1995)

An outcast half-wolf risks his life to prevent a deadly epidemic from ravaging Nome, Alaska.

Director:

Simon Wells

Writers:

Cliff Ruby (screenplay), Elana Lesser (screenplay)

Stars:

Kevin Bacon, Bob Hoskins, Bridget Fonda

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Bacon	...	Balto (voice)
Bob Hoskins	...	Boris (voice)
Bridget Fonda	...	Jenna (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	Steele (voice)
Phil Collins	...	Muk and Luk (voice)
Jack Angel	...	Nikki (voice)
Danny Mann	...	Kaltag (voice)
Robbie Rist	...	Star (voice) (as Robby Rist)
Juliette Brewer	...	Rosy (voice)
Sandra Dickinson	...	Sylvie and Dixie / Rosy's Mother (voice) (as Sandra Searles Dickson)
Miriam Margolyes	...	Grandma Rosy / Extra Voices (voice)
Lola Bates-Campbell	...	Granddaughter
Donald Sinden	...	Doc (voice)
William Roberts	...	Rosy's Father (voice)
Garrick Hagon	...	Telegraph Operator (voice)

Storyline

A half-wolf, half-husky named Balto gets a chance to become a hero when an outbreak of diphtheria threatens the children of Nome, Alaska in the winter of 1925. He leads a dog team on a 600-mile trip across the Alaskan wilderness to get medical supplies. The film is based on a true story which inspired the Iditarod dog sled race.

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Plot Keywords:

dog | nome alaska | alaska | children | iditarod | 

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Taglines:

The true story of an American hero

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | History

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Balto

Filming Locations:

Universal Cartoon Studios - 121 W Lexington Avenue, Glendale, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$11,268,750

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amblimation,Amblin Entertainment,Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo DTS

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jenna is a Red and White (also called copper) Siberian Husky.

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Goofs

At the end of the movie, when the sled stops, the doctor rushes out, and the lantern is on top of the crate. In the next shot, the crate is being opened, and someone is holding the lantern. Also, no bottles of medicine are missing, even though one fell out and broke in the ice cave. Furthermore, the crate is intact, even though one of the sides was broken just minutes earlier.

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Quotes

Jenna: You're lying.
[louder]
Jenna: Steele's lying. Balto's alive. And he's coming home.

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Crazy Credits

After the credits, Fievel from "An American Tail" (1986) pushes the Amblimation logo into place, then stands next to it and his hat falls down over his eyes.

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Alternate Versions

All non US/UK versions have the film's characters dubbed in local language.

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Connections

Referenced in Honest Game Trailers: Fallout 4 (2015)

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Soundtracks

Reach for the Light
Composed by James Horner and Barry Mann
Lyrics by Cynthia Weil
Performed by Steve Winwood
Backing Vocals: Bonnie Keen (uncredited), Chris Rodriguez (uncredited), Micah Wilshire (uncredited), and Tina Clark (uncredited)
Chorus: Caitlin McCollister (uncredited), Elizabeth Winwood (uncredited), Emily Estes (uncredited), Evan Brooder (uncredited), Gianno Caputo (uncredited), Holly Burt (uncredited), Jamie Grable (uncredited), Joel Dunham (uncredited), Katy Dunham (uncredited), Lauren Caputo (uncredited), Leah Lofton (uncredited), Mary Claire Winwood (uncredited), Natalia DiGesare (uncredited)

User Reviews

Excellent, overlooked animated film.

It's not hard to see why this movie wasn't particularly popular (check out the scene where the carpenter is shown sadly preparing small coffins), but that doesn't mean it isn't worth a look. It's actually one of the best underrated animated films of the 90's. The drama is real, the visuals are beautiful, and the story ends happily. The live action prologue and epilogue are a little distracting, but they're made up for by a random (and hilarious) visual shout-out to "E.T."